Can opener



July 18, 1950 H. VON DER LIETH CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1947 INVENTR.

ATTCI RN EY5 Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER Harry Von der Lieth, Ridgefield, N. J.

Application February 3, 1947, Serial N0. 726184 1 Claim. 1

'Ihis invention relates t a can opener, and more particularly tso a device of this charactler that Will Clip onto the t;op 01 a can f0r the cutt;ing off of the top thereof.

An object: 01 the invention is 130 provide a can opener that is simple in constsructzion and operation, adjustzable in size for cans of various diameters, durable in use, and can be inexpensively manufactu'red.

Witzh the above and other objects and advantzages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement: and combinatzion 01 parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, 0f an embodiment of the invention, in position on the t;op of a can;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the can opener,

partaly in section, as applied t70 a can;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 2 looking in ehe direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a sectsional view on the line 55 015 Figure 1 looking in the directzion of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a sect;ional view on t:he line 66 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of tahe arrows and Figure '7 is a sectional view on the line 'I-'I 01 Figure 1 loo-king in t3he direction 01 the arrows.

Referring more in detail 130 t:he drawings, the numeral I t] generally designatzes the can opener which comprises t;he substantially triangular shaped platze er body H which is provided With the depending peripheral flange I2. At the oppositse corners of the base I3, cutzting wheels I4, having annular cutztsing edges I5, are rotatably mounted on the depending pins I6 fixed in the platze II.

At the centzer 01 the platze I I, a T-shaped handle I'I is rotatably mounted, and fixed 130 t:he end 01' the handle, under the platze II, is a gear I8, which is in engagement witzh the rack teeth I9 formed on the inner side of t;he U-shaped thrust arm 20. Depending L-shaped guides 2I stamped from the plate II engage the arm 20 on the opposite side o the teeth I9 to slidably mount: the arm on the plate I I, on the under surface thereof.

Rotatably mount;ed on the forward end of the arm 20 by a pin 22 fixed therein is a, t;hird cutting wheel 23' Which is similar to cutting wheels I4 having the annular cuttzing edge 24.

In use, the handle I'I is turned 110 rotate t;he gear I8 which, engaging the teeth I9 on the arm 20, will move the cutting wheel 23 outwardly far enough 110 permit; the cutting wheels t:0 span the outer periphery of the can 25. Then by grasping the can in one band and t;urning the handle I'I in a clockwise manner, t1he cuttsing Wheels Will be drawn int;o engagement Wih t;he can, and puncture the can until the outer wheels engage the lid of the can and then upon furtzher turning of the handle the platze Will move about the axis of the can t;o cut the top therefrom.

There has be en provided, a can opener which will accomplish t:he objects of t;he invention and from t;he foregoing description, 111 is believed t;he operation and consructlon 01 the device Will be apparent; t;o those skilled in the art.

II; is also to be underst0od that changes in the minor details of constzruction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resortsed to provided they fall within the spirit o1" the inventzion and the scope of the appended claim.

Havlng thus described t;he invention, what is claimed as new and desired 130 be secured by Letters Patent is:

A device 0f t:he character described, comprising a substantially triangular shaped plate-like body, a depending peripheral flange on said body adapted 1:0 engage a can t;op and support said body in spaced relation theret0, cutting wheels rotatably mounted an said body at opposite ende of the base of said body, said wheels mounted an said body and extending below said fiange are adaptzed cut the can below the top thereof, a handle mounted on said plate ab t:he center thereof, a gear on the end of said handle below said body, a rack arm slidably mounted 011 said body in engagement with said gear, said gear and said rack arm lying Within the fiange 01 said body in a plane above the lower edge o1 said body so that said gear and said rack arm will not', engage the can top during movement; thereof and a autting wheel rotaoably mounted on the forward end of said arm which is moved inwardly and outwardly by said handle to vary the distance between said first cutting wheels and said last mentioned cutzting wheels.

HARRY VON DER, LIETH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of tshis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Da1;e

448092 Stoub Max. 10, 1891 986319 Sheehy Mar. 7, 1911 1155267 Peacott; Sept. 28, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 313,666 Germany July 17, 1919 

